I just purchase a new 2009 BMW M3. It is my first BMW, so I'm not familiar with how navigation updates work. Are they free or do they cost money? If not free, how much are they? Should I have received the most recent version when I purchased the car? Is there a website where I can check coverage of the BMW USA maps? The current version in my car (don't know the version off hand) doesn't have my address in it, but the Lexus I had prior (with the latest map version did).

Updates supposedly occur twice a year and are available at the dealer or online according to the BMWNA website. On the website there is a Navteq link to check to see if you have the latest version. However, I just checked it, and I get a "broken link" message.

They are not free. Some manufacturers, such as GM, sent out a new DVD every year for the first 3 years.

Beginning with 2009, I believe it has to be updated at the dealer, since the database is on your car's HD, and you have no DVD. Perhaps one of the IT geeks here has figured out the procedure for DIY updates via laptop and the USB connection.

I just purchase a new 2009 BMW M3. It is my first BMW, so I'm not familiar with how navigation updates work. Are they free or do they cost money? If not free, how much are they? Should I have received the most recent version when I purchased the car? Is there a website where I can check coverage of the BMW USA maps? The current version in my car (don't know the version off hand) doesn't have my address in it, but the Lexus I had prior (with the latest map version did).

Thanks!

The new map data provider for the HDD iDrive system is TeleAtlas. And so far only the dealer can sell updated maps and only by download directly to the HDD...

The current version in my car (don't know the version off hand) doesn't have my address in it, but the Lexus I had prior (with the latest map version did).

Thanks!

You can check your version by going to Navigation and selecting options. Mine (European maps on US car) says ECE Version 1.0.1 and "TESTMAPS 2008.2". Supposedly the map set I have was a test set installed on early 2009 production cars and BMW is supposed to be getting an update ready in January with a new version to load into the car.

Rather than start a new thread, just posting here since this is relevant.

Got a notice yesterday of an update finally being released for the DVD nav folks amongst us. Doesn't list a verson, but some quick poking around indicates that a 2009.2 version never was released and I assume this is 2010.1. $199.

I admittedly had never actually looked at the version that came in my '08, purchased this month last year. It is 2009.1, so I'm planning to defer for now...

"The Updates Are Available In the Dealer In the form of Dvd To read On the Vehicle Directly"

If by this you mean DVDs that load onto the HDD, Yes, but it requires a code to load the DVDs onto the HDD. And codes are not being provided or sold to individuals yet. So far, the only way to do this is have the dealer do it. Not a DIY at this point.

When you go to Tele Atlas's site, they tell you to check with a local dealer. Since the maps have to be loaded there I would hope they know.

I can only speak to European maps for US-spec cars (and probably applies to European cars as well): there is an update to the 2009.2 maps already at the dealer. My dealer (in France) said a 2010.1 was coming out soon.

If by this you mean DVDs that load onto the HDD, Yes, but it requires a code to load the DVDs onto the HDD. And codes are not being provided or sold to individuals yet. So far, the only way to do this is have the dealer do it. Not a DIY at this point.